driver's license
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driver's license
The official document that allows a person to operate a motor vehicle of a certain class on public roads.
Nach bestandener Prüfung hat sie endlich ihren Führerschein bekommen.
After passing the exam, she finally got her driver's license.
The word is made up of 'führen' (here: to drive/control a vehicle) and 'der Schein' (a document, a certificate). So it is literally a 'certificate for driving' a vehicle.
Ohne Führerschein darfst du dieses Auto nicht fahren.
You are not allowed to drive this car without a driver's license.
Important verbs are: 'den Führerschein machen' (to get/take your driver's license, i.e. complete the training and exam), 'ihn haben' (to have it) or 'besitzen' (to possess it), and 'ihn verlieren' (to lose it) or 'abgeben müssen' (to have to surrender it, often as a penalty).
Er musste seinen Führerschein für einen Monat abgeben.
He had to surrender his driver's license for one month.
To specify the type of vehicle for which the license is valid, the preposition 'für' (for) is used. People talk about the different 'Führerscheinklassen' (driver's license classes).
Hast du auch den Führerschein für Motorräder?
Do you also have a driver's license for motorcycles?
cardboard / license
Der Führerschein and die Pappe can both refer to the document that allows someone to drive. Der Führerschein is the neutral term in standard German, while die Pappe sounds colloquial. Use Führerschein in official or neutral situations and Pappe mainly in casual conversation.
Bitte zeigen Sie bei der Kontrolle Ihren Führerschein.
Please show your driver's license during the inspection.
Beim Treffen erzählte er stolz, dass er seine Pappe endlich bekommen hatte.
At the gathering, he proudly said that he had finally gotten his driver's license.
